Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 14:06
Directions for Collection of Bovine Urine for Diagnosis of Leptospirosis
- Selection of animals for testing. Generally, analysis of samples from 10 to 15 cows is sufficient to detect leptospirosis. The particular animals that are selected for testing is not particularly important because infection rates tend to be about 30% in endemically infected herds. Therefore the analysis of 10 to 15 cows is very likely to find infection in at least one cow.
- Ideally, urine should be collected after administration of a diuretic (e.g. furosemide). The objective is to collect urine that is freshly produced—not that which has been in the bladder for some time. The usual procedure is to inject 5 to 10 cc of furosemide IV or IM and wait for about 10 minutes to collect a urine sample. The cow will have emptied her bladder once by that time and the urine you collect will be water clear and freshly produced. After cleaning the vulva of gross debris with a wet paper towel, collect ~10 ml of urine in a sterile container—a red top vacutainer (not a serum separation tube) makes a nice container for collection and shipment.
- Label the sample with the cow number and keep them cool but not frozen. Samples need to be submitted to the VMC the same day as they are collected. Samples should be dropped off on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.